In 1980, the wing
received the new F-4G and its advanced Wild Weasel system. By
July 1980, the last F-105G left George Air Force Base, leaving
the 35th with F-4Gs in its inventory for Wild Weasel training.

Operations at
George Air Force Base were reorganized by mission requirements
March 30, 1981. The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing retained control
of the 20th and 21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons and
gained the 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

With the
inactivation of the 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1985, the
35th Tactical Fighter Wing was re-designated the 35th Tactical
Training Wing. However, the wing kept its air defense
augmentation responsibility. It provided operations and
maintenance support for the close air support portion of Army
training exercises conducted at the U.S. Army National Training
Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., from 1981 to 1990. Also, the wing
advised specific Air National Guard units on F-4 operations from
1981 to 1991.

Operations at
George Air Force Base were reorganized again October 5, 1989. The 37th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 35th Tactical Training
Wing consolidated all operations under the newly re-designated
35th Tactical Fighter Wing. Under the reorganization the 35th
regained control of the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron and the
562nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

In August 1990, the
35th Tactical Fighter Wing mobilized in support of Operation
Desert Shield. On Aug. 16, 1990, 24 F-4Gs of the 561st Tactical
Fighter Squadron left George Air Force Base en-route to Shaikh
Isa Air Base, Bahrain. Once in the Middle East, its deployed
people established operational, maintenance and living
facilities for the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional). These facilities eventually housed more than 60 active duty and
Air National Guard F-4s and more than 2,600 military members.
24 of our Military Fire Fighters were deployed to Shaikh
Isa Air Base, Bahrain.

During Operation
Desert Storm, which started 17 Jan 1991, the 561st Tactical
Fighter Squadron flew 1,182 combat sorties for a total of
4,393.5 hours. The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) was
credited with flying 3,072 combat missions for 10,318.5 hours. U.S. Central Command relied heavily on the wing's Wild Weasels
to suppress enemy air defense systems. The F-4G aircrews were
credited with firing 905 missiles at Iraqi targets, while the
RF-4C aircrews shot more than 300,000 feet of vital
reconnaissance film. During operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) suffered no
casualties. The wing's people began returning to George Air
Force Base March 23, 1991, with its aircraft and pilots
following three days later.

The 35th became the
host unit for George Air Force Base when the 831st Air Division
there inactivated on 31 March 1991. As a result, the wing gained
several support agencies, including the 35th Combat Support
Group and associated squadrons. In support of the Air Force's
force reduction programs, the 21st Tactical Fighter Training
Squadron inactivated 28 June 1991. That October, as part of the
Air Force's reorganization plan, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing
was re-designated the 35th Fighter Wing. A month later, the
wing's tactical fighter squadrons were re-designated fighter
squadrons.

In 1992, the 35th
began downsizing in preparation for the closure of George Air
Force Base. On 5 June 1992, the 20th Fighter Squadron moved to
Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and by the end of June, the
561st and 562d Fighter Squadrons were inactivated.

On 15 December
1992, the 35th Fighter Wing inactivated and George Air Force
Base closed bringing an end to 21 years of continuous service
and more than 34 years of total service for the 35 FW.

Looking for Fire Fighters Civilian or
Military who served at George AFB, especially between 1980-92